I have been obsessed with music since my earliest memories and in the last ten years I have delved deeper into music and its effects on us. The research and work that neuroscientists and music therapists are conducting, fascinate me.
Just think — what could be better than “music” to heal us.
I am sure everyone has heard a friend say “music has saved my life” or something to that effect. Although, I don’t think I have made such a bold statement, it is very true that music has been my support when I needed it. DJ-ing was my medicine — playing music I loved for, 5/6 hours a night for a room full of sweaty dancers — was my cure for whatever stresses I was dealing with in my life. It was my shelter and my moment to completely forget. I didn’t need drugs — I had music.
Knowing music had such a positive effect on me, I decided to read more about the why and the more I read, the more I wanted to learn.
We are only at the beginning of understanding the depths in which music effects us. There are countless blogs and fun articles about “curious effects of music on our brain” but notion that is a little less explored, is the benefits of music in our daily lives, to help us relax, be more efficient, healthy and happy.
We already know that music is the most powerful generator of the feel good chemical “Dopamine” and we also know that music stimulates all parts of the brain. So what Don Campbell and Alex Doman talk about in “Healing At The Speed Of Sound” is, how we can use music to improve our overall well being, by training (re-wiring) our neurons and our brain.
They explain, that there is so much noise our ears have to deal with on a daily basis, that it can have a negative effect on us. Even now as you read this, take a moment to listen to all the noises happening around you. I am writing this from the local café and can hear the coffee grinder, steam, milk throthing, different conversations, heater, music, doors closing, plates in the kitchen (its open plan — not because I have supersonic hearing) and there are probably a lot more.
What we don’t realize, is that our ears get tired and when neglected, this has a knock on effect on our overall well being.
I for one, sleep with earplugs and spend the first waking hour of my morning with them still in — so that my body completely wakes up before my ears need to take on the world. Because I know the moment, I take the plugs out — my ears start working hard!
When I get on a train I have my earphones in, sometimes without music playing, but I protect my ears from the high pitch noises from the wheels grinding on the train tracks or the cabins squeaking — sure, you might think this is overboard, but after DJ-ing in clubs for more than 16 years — I do what I can to protect my hearing.
“Healing At The Speed Of Sound”, talks about small changes you can make in your daily routine to drastically improve your mood — and other positives. They advocate the use of playlists and programming songs for certain activities or parts of your day.
Certain songs or types of songs can make you feel good and confident in the morning, other songs help you relax, so play them after work, to help you unwind and forget about the stress of the day.
And then there is music that helps you stay focused and concentrated. This type of music is more widely known and we all generally know what works here — slow beats, not too many vocals and no huge variations within or between songs.
The problem is to define what works for the rest of our activities. Most of us don’t know which types of songs make us happy, motivated or relaxed, so it does require a bit of experimentation. Some researchers say it is good to focus on specific songs, and although there have been tremendously positive examples of this approach, for people suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia, I don’t think it is necessary for us.
Because when we use music to rewire our neurons to release a certain chemical to make us feel a certain way, isn’t it more beneficial to do this with a type of song, rather than a specific song?
This can be to change our negative mood into a positive, or to make us feel confident ahead of an interview (Eye of the Tiger comes to mind) — This is incredibly powerful, but why would we limit that to a specific song? What happens when you are heading there and your internet bugs out. The only song on your phone is “Van Halen — More Than A Feeling”? Do you get upset because you cant listen to “Eye Of The Tiger” before your interview, or do you crank Van Halen and get in that right frame of mind?
My theory is that it would be more beneficial for us to train our brains, first understanding the type of music or song that works for us, rather than a specific track. Firstly, so that we don’t get bored of that song (which certainly does happen when we over play something) but secondly so we are not as reliant to something so specific.
So if your walk to work is made tremendously positive by listening to James Brown “Get On The Good Foot”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGwI12zMJg
(Although JB cant be replicated) I can guarantee you, that other Funk of the same style, can have the same desired effects. The key is understanding that another song with the same upbeat and feel good vibe, could garner a similar result in your mental well being — try it yourself with Muru, a free music app that helps you create personalised playlists, within seconds.
This is my personal view, but at the end of the day we are talking about music, so that can only be a good thing, right?
There are a lot of great books on this subject and if you are interested to learn more, these books are a must;
“Healing at the speed of sound” — Don Campbell and Alex Doman
“Musicophilia” — Oliver Sacks
“This is your brain on music” — Daniel J. Levitin
“How Music Works” — David Byrne
Have an experience to share, know of successful music therapy that worked for you, friends or relatives or just think I am absolutely wrong — I would love to hear from you. Sharing is caring :)